Side Story: A Letter to Owen
Since entering the academy, I’ve learned about new magic from the academy library and from mages of other countries.
However, this magic academy has already applied and combined magic from multiple countries. As a result, the mages here have forgotten the uniquely evolved magic of their respective countries, instead learning the refined magic taught at the academy.
In terms of new ideas, I felt that studying the older magic from each country might be closer to my goal.
Of course, this excludes those who are conducting independent research, whether faculty or students. They are each trying to develop new magic or modify existing magic through trial and error.
Some of them might be researching from interesting angles.
I mainly wrote about these topics in my letter, adding just a brief line inquiring about his health.
Since even peddlers can’t reach Owen’s place, I sent it to the nearest town. He should visit the tool shop there about once a month.
I thought it would be good if I got a reply in about a month.
That’s what I thought when I sent the letter, but just three weeks later, he came in person.
More precisely, a peddler who could enter the academy grounds brought a letter from him.
When I checked the letter, it said he was waiting outside the town, so I immediately headed to the road outside.
“It’s been a while.”
Owen was there as if nothing had happened. He leaned against a tree trunk, raising one hand in greeting.
“…What are you doing?”
There were many things I wanted to say, but that’s all that came out of my mouth.
“I read your letter.”
“I see.”
From Owen’s brief words, I guessed that was his reason for coming all this way.
“…We could have met in town, you know.”
When I said that, he snorted with a sulky face.
“Except for Glen, I have no intention of meeting other mages. I’m somewhat known in some circles… in a bad way. So I specified this place to avoid getting involved in troublesome matters.”
Owen said this with a dissatisfied look, but soon, as if remembering something, he took out a letter and pointed to a shallow forest off the road.
“This place is too conspicuous. I’ve prepared a place over there.”
Hearing his very brief and lacking explanation, I nodded with a wry smile. Even after not seeing him for a while, Owen’s personality hadn’t changed.
Why do I feel both nostalgic and irritated at the same time?
I followed Owen into the forest.
Although it had only been a few months of life in the academy city, I felt like it had been a long time since I walked in an unstable forest. My steps slowed on the soft soil and tree roots. However, the sunlight scattered sparsely by the branches and leaves, the dense air, and the scent of trees calmed my mind.
After walking through the forest for nearly twenty minutes, we suddenly arrived at an open space. It was like a hole had been punctured in the middle of the forest. Normally, such places would have a swamp or a river bend, but not here.
In the center of the circular clearing stood a two-story house. Although hastily built, it was an impressive stone dwelling. It had a clean, brand-new appearance, yet gave off a nostalgic atmosphere.
That’s no surprise. After all, it was an exact replica of the house where I had lived with Owen.
“…Don’t tell me you brought the house here?”
I wondered if he had developed teleportation magic in such a short time.
When I asked this, Owen exhaled through his nose with an annoyed face.
“Don’t be stupid. Of course not. I built this house yesterday. Since I was at it, I just recreated the house Aoi was used to living in.”
He said something that sounded like a joke.
Although not as extreme as teleportation magic, he was saying something quite abnormal, but Owen didn’t seem to realize it at all. Well, I probably didn’t think it was abnormal either until I started working at the academy, so I can’t really say anything.
In reality, he had come to this town just a few days after receiving the letter, cleared part of the forest in a day, and even built a house. Even Headmaster Glen would be amazed by this.
“…Well, fine. So, aren’t we going inside?”
When I said this, Owen frowned for a moment, looking displeased. But soon he snorted, turned on his heel, and walked towards the house.
Seeing this, I let out an “Ah.” It was likely that he had made this house for me. Perhaps he thought I would be happy to see the familiar shape of the house.
Realizing this, I couldn’t help but smile. As I had always known, he was a kind elf, albeit one who was inarticulate, stubborn, and clumsy.
“Come on, I’ll cook for you after such a long time. Why don’t you help me?”
When I said this, Owen’s ears twitched slightly.
“Hmm… it’s troublesome, but I suppose I could help with washing dishes or something.”
He said this without turning around, but I could somehow tell that Owen’s mood had improved.
With a wry smile, I followed Owen into the house.
A waft of new house smell greeted us. The interior was also a good recreation of the house we had lived in, but there wasn’t much furniture or furnishings. I guess he couldn’t prepare that much.
“…It feels really strange to see Owen in a building with almost no books.”
“Shut up. If I could, I’d storm into the academy right now and steal every book in their collection.”
“Don’t you dare.”
READ THE ORIGINAL TRANSLATION AT LOCALIZERMEERKAT.PAGES.DEV
I made sure to warn the magic-obsessed fool who was saying such dangerous things.
Owen shrugged and moved to sit on one of the two chairs placed in front of a lone table.
As I sat on the opposite side, he spread out several sheets of paper and my letter on the table.
“Before we eat, let’s confirm and verify some things.”
“Alright.”
As I nodded, Owen’s eyes sharpened.
“First, about this faculty member named Eliza, who you say is your colleague. Her research is on magic circles. Well? Did you hear any details? Any approaches different from our magic circles?”
“I’ve heard the details, but it doesn’t seem like there have been any new discoveries. Given that she’s doing research on her own while working as a teacher, it’s to be expected… Oh, but there might be one interesting point.”
“Interesting?”
“Yes. The magic circle Eliza experimentally developed hasn’t reached the stage of activating magic. However, despite having a very different shape from Owen’s magic circle, it has succeeded in accumulating magical power.”
Hearing this, Owen expresses surprise.
“Oh, that is interesting! If the first step has been achieved, the next would be conversion. It would be easy to teach them the magic circles we use, but that wouldn’t be interesting. I’d like them to somehow progress to the second stage using their own method. I’d also like to hear more about their current research findings.”
“Well, I’ll tell you what I know for now.”
Taking a piece of paper from the table, I draw one of the magic circles Eliza was researching. It’s not a circular magic circle like the ones we make, but rather a design based on squares. It’s not easy to call it a flexible shape, but when considering the subsequent three-dimensionalization and combination of magic circles, it might be an excellent structure.
“Hmm… I see. Interesting. We’ve been making circular magic circles to eliminate waste and ensure smooth flow of magical power, but for complex magic or developing new magic, this kind of shape might be good intentionally.”
Owen spends a while looking at the magic circle Eliza conceived.
Then, he looks up.
“Well then, next. Honestly, the research content of senior faculty and other teachers wasn’t particularly interesting. Rather, they’re too bound by common sense and not interesting. If that’s the case, I’d like to hear about the treasures of the Verted Kingdom, or about the dorm head, Glenora Nova Scotia.”
“…About the dorm head?”
As I tilt my head and ask back, Owen folds his arms and ponders. I only wrote that there was a kind dorm head named Glenora who looked scary but was actually nice, so I wonder what caught Owen’s attention. Moreover, I don’t even remember writing her full name in the letter. Could she be an old acquaintance of Owen’s?
While I’m thinking this, Owen shrugs and points at Glenora’s name written in the letter.
“…Glenora Nova Scotia is a former saint of the Holy Empire of Maple Leaf. In other words, she’s one of the top five healing magic users recognized by the Holy Empire. The Holy Empire is a step ahead of other countries in healing magic, you know. Moreover, mages called saints are given secret magic techniques.”
“Secret magic techniques?”
As I ask back, Owen nods deeply.
“It’s the highest level of healing magic that can completely cure someone who’s half-dead, regardless of injury or illness. In the past, the most excellent saint was said to have even resurrected the dead.”
“Resurrection…”
It’s an amazing magic, but I’m more surprised by the fact that Glenora was a former saint.
Her atmosphere makes her look more like the strongest attack magic user. It’s an unexpected fact that she’s a world-class healing magic user.
As I’m surprised by this, Owen clears his throat and points to the letter again.
“Now, lastly, what interested me the most…”
“Huh?”
Surprised by his words, I look at the letter reflexively.
Did I write something else? I don’t think there was anything particularly noteworthy. As I’m thinking this, Owen answers my question.
“It’s about the research content of that student named Balvenie who’s studying rain-making magic.”
“Balvenie?”
I wonder what he thought about the rain-making magic research.
To be honest, I think Balvenie’s research might end up being a waste of effort in a sense. Because magic related to rain, snow, and thunder has already been completed by Owen’s research.
I feel a bit sorry, but this is just how it is.
However, Owen was interested in Balvenie’s research.
“What’s so interesting about it?”
When I ask, he returns a meaningful smile.
“If anything, shouldn’t you be the one more interested in it, Aoi? You heard about Balvenie’s research content, but didn’t you notice?”
“…If you don’t want me to make you extremely spicy curry rice, you’d better spill it quickly.”
“Well, don’t get angry.”
Laughing it off, Owen points his index finger towards the ceiling.
“Originally, it was a magic completed based on your idea, Aoi, but when we make rain, we use fire, water, and wind to create clouds. This was an idea unique to you who knows how clouds are formed, but other mages should have tried to make rain with different approaches. And Balvenie’s research is based precisely on that different way of thinking.”
“A different method…”
As I repeat the words Owen mentioned, I realize.
I look up with a start, and Owen nods with a mischievous smile.
“That’s right. In other words, Balvenie’s research is about whether it’s possible to make clouds or masses of water appear in the sky. It’s not written in detail, but Balvenie’s research probably includes something related to transfer magic. If he’s good at water magic, he must have realized that rain can’t be made with water magic alone.”
“…I’ll ask for more details next time.”
As I answer, Owen nods several times and falls silent.
Then, a few seconds of silence pass.
“…I’m hungry.”
“Oh. What would you like to eat?”
I ask back, suddenly being told about his hunger. Then, Owen shows a serious face, pretending to be troubled.
“…………Stew.”
“Stew, huh? Got it.”
As a result of his pondering, a slightly cute order came out, so I answered while holding back my laughter. Owen was nodding silently, but his long ears were again showing reactions by twitching.
Visit the request page If there’s a Japanese Light Novel (LN) or Web Novel (WN) you’d like me to translate
When the donation goal progress bar above hit 100% one novel will be chosen for translation
| Table of Contents | Next* |
Support the Author by Buying the Original Books!
